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chef Kirill GryazNovember Gryaznov moved to Paris in 2010 and attended culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. He went on to work in a Michelin-star restaurant in Courchevel (a luxury ski resort in the French Alps) as well as appearing on several Russian reality TV shows. He reportedly caught the attention of the French secret service in May. During a layover in Istanbul on a trip from Moscow to Paris, Gryaznov got drunk and told witnesses that he was on a secret mission from the FSB. He is currently being held in pre-trial detention. If convicted of espionage, Gryaznov faces up to 30 years in prison.
Russia will deploy its low, intermediate-range missiles if US deploys missiles in Germany, Putin says. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would deploy short and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles if American missile systems capable of striking Russian territory were deployed in Germany.
NYT reports another potential episode of US-Ukrainian ‘frustrations’: On July 12, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov telephoned his American counterpart to ask if the US had signed off on a supposed covert operation planned by Ukraine, detected by Russia. Belousov reportedly warned Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that the plot had significant potential to “ratchet up tensions between Moscow and Washington.” The New York Times doesn’t reveal the nature of the alleged plot, but the details were apparently news to the Pentagon, which later contacted Ukrainian officials “and said, essentially, if you’re thinking about doing something like this, don’t.”
Russia will likely try to influence US election in Trump's favor, intelligence official tells media. The official, who is associated with the US Foreign Malign Influence Center, said that Iran will likely continue to oppose Trump and that China does not have a preference.
● Peace initiatives
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern over Beijing’s “destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Laos on July 27, as the two sought to keep communications open despite a deepening rivalry. In the meeting, Blinken also discussed China’s support for Russia’s defence industrial base, warning that the US will take “appropriate measures” if China doesn’t end their support, according to Miller. A statement from the Chinese foreign ministry said that Wang told Blinken the US holds “a wrong perception of China” and urged a return to a “rational and pragmatic China policy.” But the statement added that the two would keep up communication. The first leg of Blinken’s week-long visit – which includes stops in Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia – comes amid persistent tensions between the US and China despite efforts by US President Joe Biden’s administration to stabilize rocky relations
54 RUSSIA Country Report August 2024 www.intellinews.com